CATEGORY: | Sunday, June 28, 2009

CATEGORY: | Saturday, June 27, 2009

This is a picture of Mom wearing her favorite t-shirt with the flag on it giving our sister-who-came-before-us, Lilly, her subq fluids back in May of last year. Lilly was such a good girl for Mom when she did this. Mom has lots and lots of experience in giving the fluids because she'd done it with Cerise for well over a year before that.

CATEGORY: | Friday, June 26, 2009

CATEGORY: | Thursday, June 25, 2009

So....normally I keep things super light and fun and try to be inspiring but this week a depression has hit me and hit me hard. I don't know why but I suspect it is from trying to be as happy as I can and pretend that THINGS don't bother me. THINGS being that we live in a small space (yes I know I am a broken record) and it is hard to do but more importantly than how hard it can be is the feeling that we will be here forever. I know we are lucky and I do appreciate what we have, really....but to have a work space someday where I could leave my projects partially done...wow!! I mean I love the location and we are very very lucky I just wish with all my heart we had more space and that someday we will own our own home. Without help from family and without a more clear life path to financial success we have just always worked hard and tried to do the best we could. It all ties into success in life too and how maybe some of my choices were not the best and now I am where I am. So as many people do at times....I feel rather like a failure. I know, I know, I have my two gorgeous kids, I have an amazing husband but personally I just don't feel like I matter much. This depression is the kind that leaves you with the feeling 'Why Bother' and that scares me. I mean I KNOW that I matter but what can I say...somewhere inside my brain I'm not buying it. Okay...enough enough...the reason I am sharing this is because in the midst of my big depression...as I was feeling very lonely and sort of hopeless...my Friend Darcey calls and asks if we would like to go to the zoo. (She does not live in Seattle, so I see her but not as much as I would like.) Which is very funny to me because I was planning on surprising the kids and taking them to the Zoo that afternoon....so we met up with Darcey and her 3 kids and had a wonderful day...and I did NOT spend the day complaining or being a bummer. I had fun. The other really cool thing that happened yesterday is that Alison of Malisonian on flickr was also at the Zoo and she came up to me and told me she read my blog. I recognized her face but because I worked in retail forever I could not place how I knew her. She told me and we chatted about kids and having creative energy and lacking creative energy and I got to also meet Esmond, her son, who is super adorable. She was super nice and I told her to flickr mail me for a play date sometime this summer. So Alison if you are reading this...Hello and I can't wait to hang out at the Zoo again :)! I know both of those things are not super duper duper huge in the scheme of life but they were enough to pull me out of my depression a little and realize I am NOT alone. Life with kids is amazing, I do love it but I get lonely and we don't really have help so sometimes I become exhausted and overwhelmed. It was nice to chat with two wonderful ladies and to watch the kids go crazy at the Zoo. Soren was SOSOSOSO excited...he literally screamed at the Gorillas and loved the Penguins and each exhibit was just so exciting for him. He really loves life. Memphis had a great time with her pals Hazel, Leo and Ruby and it was just what we needed. So I guess today I am thanking the universe for sending me fun and love and hoping with all my heart that I can manage to love myself just a bit more and stop being bummed out by things that are out of my control and honestly don't really matter. It is hard to raise children without a village but if you want a village you have to build one...you can't wait for it to come looking for you and that is what I will try to do in the months to come. I hope all of you stay at home Mas out there have a village and if you don't feel free to come and join mine...you are all welcome :)

CATEGORY: | Wednesday, June 24, 2009

CATEGORY: | Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I have been a huge fan of Melanie Favreau for awhile now...and I own 3 of her pieces!!! One was a gift for myself the other two were from my fabu Hubby!!! I love her sense of humor, her use of silhouette images and the words she puts on her pieces. I own 'This is Fake I am not' and every time I wear it...it makes me smile. She is amazing and such a wonderful person....here is part of her Etsy profile....Hi! I live in the city of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada. I can't picture myself doing anything else, I just love my job! And my husband, my 5 cats, my numerous pairs of eyeglasses (who's counting!), purses...I think I'll stop there! I love cheese too...and coffee cups :P

I get inspired by, well everything! A color, a song, a glass of milk...

CATEGORY: | Monday, June 22, 2009

So....we have been out and about a lot.Long walks on the beach, in the woods in our hood...parks...swings...water...signed up for swimming lessons for Memphis...Poppy's day was super fun...went for a long walk in the park, saw the water, hit the playgroundhad lunch at a Bagel shopLast day of school was fun for MemphisI made capes for her teacher and her teacher last year...they play kickball with the 5th Graders that are leaving each year...both the teachers wore the capes I made...Memphis said is was super funnySaid summer good byesMade plans for future play datesSaturdaywent to yard saleswas wiped outhad to do some resting lateroh andOn Thursday I got to meet MARTHA of Uniform Studio andit was such a treat. Soren and I headed Downtown to meet her at herHotel over on 3rd close to Macy's and we walked to the Library...GORGEOUS...then we walked to the International District and went to go to Kinokuniya, theamazing Japanese bookstore attached to Uwajimaya....which until Thursday I thought was part of it and did not know it's name. I have been there a bunch of times but...In Uwajimaya's first location it was upstairs and still super cool....then we walked back and the entire time we chatted away...(my favorite part)I forgot my CF cards for my camera after having emptied them the night before...in the mad morning rush to get everyone ready for the day and Memphis off to school...I left them all at home :( Serious bummer at the library and lost my chance to get a shot of fantastic Martha...next time :)So...I have no photos to share but it was so fun...Martha gave me one of her coveted scarves and I am wearing as I type right now...she is the best....she said she will be back soon, with the whole fam, so next time I will be snap happy...anywho...gotta run...Happy MondayWhat a great weekend it was...hope yours was great too

CATEGORY: | Sunday, June 21, 2009

Remember the box Mom got for me at Costco last week so she could take a picture of me for International Box Day last Friday? Well, she put one of my comfy blankies in it and now I have another bed to snooze in. Thanks Mom!

CATEGORY: | Saturday, June 20, 2009

CATEGORY: | Thursday, June 18, 2009

Today is International Box Day for cats all over the world in the Cat Blogosphere. We had no pictures of Minchie in a box so when Mom was at Costco yesterday, she dug through all their bins of boxes and found one just for him. He only stayed in it long enough for Mom to take the picture. He's more into cushie than hard. Me, Laila, likes any surface since the first 6 weeks of my life I roughed it outside. We are looking forward to visiting all our friends and their box pictures today!

CATEGORY: | Wednesday, June 17, 2009

CATEGORY: | Tuesday, June 16, 2009

(all the above photos belong to Marilyn and I am just using them for this posting)

I have been a BIG fan of Marilyn Patrizio'sTimmies ever since I laid eyes on them sometime in 2006!! I love ALL her stuffies...I love her sense of humor and she is so talented. When I first started selling on Etsy I did a trade with her and it was so great...Memphis named him robot 3-3 and still adores him :)!! I took the below Bio from her website...check it out....and check out her shop....her blog and her Flickr and run over right now and get your very own Timmie :)

Marilyn Patrizio was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She is a freelanceillustrator, fine artist and soft toy designer.

After graduating from the School of Visual Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Artsdegree in Illustration in 2000 she began working as a staff illustratorat a children's educational software company. In 2004 she dove into the world offreelance illustration and has enjoyed collaborating with local and internationalclients ever since. In the beginning of 2005 she discovered the art of crochet toysalso known as Amigurumi. This was perfect for her because her motherhad taught her how to crochet many years before, and this was a great way to incorporate3-D items into her work. After a few months of experimentation making free form soft toysshe decided to start a company called So Softies in March 2005. She's grown the So Softiesline to now include stationery, t-shirts and accessories featuring theoriginal characters that she's created.

When Marilyn is not designing she enjoys stuffing her face with pizza, scavenging the internetfor cute items, and sipping coffee at cozy cafes.

She also makes notebooks, t-shirts, stickers and many many other things...she is amazing....

YesterdayMemphis stayed home sick....ear infections, yup two....spent daygoing to Doctorgetting medicinethe first time we rec'd pills...Memphis threw them upso then we had to call and ask for liquid formback to Pharmacist...wait some moreliquid did the trick...I feel pretty stupid about it too.When we were at the Doc's she asked Memphis if she could take pills.Memphis said yes and the whole time I was thinking...WHEN?So I let her write out the prescription for the pills all the while thinking...hmmm....this seems wrong...I was tired what can I say?she went to school today butlateThe Doctor said she was ok to go to school...no fever...and it is her last week...one of her favorite friends in her class will be leaving the school and transferring so this will be it...his family is tough so play dates are really hard.English is their second language and I have tried to chat with them, given them a photo I took of their child and Memphis but not much happened...soooo I will try this summer but who knows....I hope she makes it and is feeling better bydaysendthat's it from herethanks goodness for my dear Motherwho came over and watched Sorenshe was off yesterday and spent the dayhelping me...I love my mother :)